Plans for a new £100,000 playground near the River Kennet in east Reading have been approved by the council’s planning committee.

The new play area at green space by the Canal Way/Orts Road junction will replace the nearby Avon Place playground.

Reading Borough Council (RBC) backed the plans at last night’s (Wednesday, February 5) Planning Applications committee.

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Councillor Karen Rowland, lead member for Recreation, said the plans received a positive response from young people in the area and “will put Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) money to good use in the area”.

She said: “It is going to be a wonderful site. Ward councillors are absolutely delighted that we are going to make use of what has often been a car park.

“Now it is going to be a proper place for the area.”

The facility – named Canal Way Play Area – will be at a larger and safer green area than Avon Place, according to the council report.

There were no objections to the proposal.

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Close to New Town Primary School, Sun Street Community Centre and the River Kennet, the play area will include a fully accessible wheelchair-friendly carousel.

Cllr Rowland added: “I am further delighted from an accessibility view that we were able to get a wheelchair-accessible roundabout.”

The green space that will be transformed into a playground is currently only lightly used for recreational purposes, according to the report, and will serve families across the estate.

Canal Way Play Area is being funded by the CIL – a charge on new developments in order to raise funds to help fund infrastructure, facilities and services.

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The CIL was introduced in 2010 to help local councils secure the revenue needed to handle the impact of new property developments.

Raised funds can be spent on projects such as improving local transport links or helping to build new schools or GP surgeries.

15 per cent of the levy receipts must be spent on projects agreed with the local community.

In 2019, councillors voted to use some of the 15 per cent recreational funding to replace the old play area at Avon Place.

Members also agreed playground works and other outdoor improvements at Ivydene, Cintra Park, Long Barn Lane Recreation Ground, Coley Recreation Ground and Prospect Park.